rlwrap ☆
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Description:
Readline wrapper: adds readline support to tools that lack it
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: readline cli utility wrapper editing terminal
Install: brew install rlwrap
About:
rlwrap is a general-purpose readline wrapper that provides command-line editing, history, and interactive input capabilities to any tool. It intercepts input and output to add features like up/down arrow history, Ctrl-R search, and custom key bindings. This transforms basic or non-interactive command-line tools into fully-fledged interactive applications without modifying the tool itself.
Key Features:
  • Adds full readline line editing to any command
  • Maintains persistent, per-tool command history
  • Customizable key bindings and input filters
  • Transparent operation without modifying the target tool
  • Supports completion and hint files
Use Cases:
  • Adding history and editing to database clients like sqlite3 or psql
  • Making interactive network tools (netcat, socat) more usable
  • Wrapping legacy or custom CLI tools that lack interactive features
Alternatives:
  • rlfe (readline filter) – Similar concept but less actively maintained; rlwrap is more feature-complete
  • script – Unix utility for session logging but lacks interactive editing features
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Sep 10, 2025 11:11pm 0 VERSION_BUMP be976f23
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